Companion Planting Primer for Vegetable Gardens
It’s not an exact science, and takes experimentation and observation. But grouping plants together that have beneficial relationships can increase yields by controlling pests, and encouraging pollination, whereas monoculture, or the practice of planting a single crop year after year, typically reduces the soil’s nutrient levels over time.
A well-known example of this practice is the Three Sisters garden, consisting of corn, beans, and squash. Various Native American tribes discovered this practice thousands of years ago. These three crops work together symbiotically. The squash’s large leaves shade the ground and retain moisture in the soil. The corn provides a tall stalk for the bean vines to climb, and reduces weed competition on the ground.
Besides the Three Sisters, there are hundreds of beneficial crop combinations. Here’s a quick summary of the main groupings for you to try in your own plot:
Legume family plants pair well with carrots, lettuces, spinach, strawberries, corn, cucumbers, and brassicas.
, such as broccoli, cauliflower,
